What could cause an air conditioning in a home to not cool down below 84 degrees?

Question

Well, here is some more specifics. It is a house we just got our offer approved to buy. We had a home inspection. It's an older home built in 1969 but the AC was replaced in '89. The inspectors detected a variance of about 25 degrees where the variance at most should be 14-20 degrees. Also, for some reason or another, when our realtor got there the heat was on and it was 98 degrees. Who knows how long it was on. So those factors could change your answers. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

Your AC is probably low on freon... Call for service. I don't know very many units that don't leak.

Yes... they still use Freon. It's just a different kind of Freon.

Answer 2

Small leak somewhere.  Needs a "jolt" of gas (I don't think they use Freon anymore).  Anyhow, AC man knows.  It is not very expensive.

Answer 3

Alot of the time that means you just need to clean your air filter.

Its probally jusy dusty.

Answer 4

Assuming your A/C has worked better previously under the same outdoor conditions I would say maybe the outdoor condenser's coil is dirty.

The heat from your home is expelled through this coil so if it's dirty it just cant get all the heat out.

Typically we clean these coils out with a coil cleaning product that will foam out the dirt and then we wash it out with a garden hose.

Of coarse we turn the power off to the outside unit first for safety and usually by the electrical disconnect next to the unit.

If it's not too dirty you can just wash the coils out with water.

There could be of coarse other problems but this is something you could do yourself.

Edit: After your comments it may be that the evaporator coil was froze up and they turned on the heat to thaw.

The temperature variance your talking about is the temp. drop of the return air versus the supply air.

With the 25 deg. variance it would indicate low airflow the the evaporator for various possible reasons, blocked duct work, dirty filter, faulty fan motor, or more of a possibility the evaporator coil is dirty and is restricting airflow.

Any of these reasons are correctable and the equipment itself may be mechanically sound. Just needs professional maintenance.

Answer 5

There are several things that can cause this such as little/no insulation in the home, air leaks around windows or doors. The mechanics of the a/c can play a part as well. Make sure your outside condenser is clean, inside coil is clean and make sure the filter has been changed.

Answer 6

hot weather!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 7

Maybe its low on freon

Answer 8

Maybe its due to faulty thermostat - with bad temp sensor.